Don Talley profile picture

Don Talley

Life is Good!! ...most of the time..

About Me



I am just as I seem, only more so (but not all the time).
I am passionate about bbq, pan-fried okra and and of course, Sweet Tea.
I'm also passionate about music...especially the music in and around Asheville North Carolina. I enjoy listening to music every chance I get, but I also enjoy sharing this music with others and helping support promote the vast musical community which exists in Asheville and the surrounding areas.
I'm the founder and editor of The Asheville Music Scene, a website devoted to publishing news and gig calendars of interest to the Asheville music community. Visit the site at:View a calendar of local music events at:
I enjoy working the The Lake Eden Arts Festival, the NC Mountain Acoustic Music Association, the Swannanoa Valley Museum, and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts.
My goals (at least at this time) are:
♣ To celebrate life and it's countless little pleasures
♣ To learn from all I encounter
♣ To be honest with myself and others
♣ To focus on the overwhelming positive things all around me.
♣ To involve myself deeply with people, organizations, and activities which celebrate the wonderful life we've been given
♣ To laugh deeply each day
I consider myself quite fortunate to live here in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Black Mtn/Asheville area is home to some of the most stunning scenery and more hot music than you can imagine. The other wonderful thing about this area is the number of amazingly creative and fun folks who make their home here. I'm fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends here who constantly inspire and challenge me.
Be sure and check of some of the great folks shown in my "friends" section at the bottom of this page. Their some of the best people in the world.
Rufus P Doohickey:
In recent months, as I have begun to explore the creative corners of my quirky personality, an interesting thing has occurred. An "alter ego" character has begun to emerge in the person of Professor Rufus P Doohickey, Est. Rufus is really a pretty interesting guy to be around. He's a bit older than I am and in fact is well on his way toward reaching his lifetime goals of becoming a crazy old fart and an eccentric old geezer.
Rufus emerges in a variety of personas and he's been rather quiet lately, but you never really know when or where he might show up. Rufus traveled up to Winston-Salem NC in March of 2007 where he appeared as a carnival barker in a film called Nest of Spiders which was set in a 1930's era traveling carnival/circus.
Old Geezers were once a common site in many small towns, but they seem to be a vanishing breed. So.....if you see Rufus P Doohickey around, be sure to say hello...
Here's a photo of one of Rufus P Doohickey's good friends, Leo The Lion-faced Clown. That's Leo in the middle



My Interests



These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

♠ Kazoos
♠ Washboards
♠ One-Man Bands
♠ Jug Bands
♠ Vaudeville
♠ Fiji Mermaids
♠ Medicine Shows
♠ Carnivals
♠ Circuses
♠ Optical Illusions

I'd like to meet:


I'm fortunate to have some of the coolest friends on the planet...... These guys are the greatest....check 'em out !!!!

Music:



....And Some of my Favorite Styles of Music


♠ Old-Time
♠ Jug bands
♠ Counry Rags
♠ Ragtime
♠ Early blues
♠ Hokum
♠ Hot jazz
♠ Honky Tonk
♠ Rockabilly
♠ Classic country



My Blog

Nest of Spiders

On Sunday, March 4 I was priviledged to travel up toWinston-Salem, NC to take part in a short film set in a 1930's era traveling carnival/circus. The film, entitled Nest of Spider...
Posted by Don Talley on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:30:00 PST

Asheville News Article on my Delta Trip

Check out the recent article in the Asheville Newspaper about my trip to the Delta Country with Mac Arnold. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20077 0207071 Mac Arnold and his band,...
Posted by Don Talley on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 10:02:00 PST

Carolina Chocolate Drops Hit Asheville

For those of you who missed the Carolina Chocolate Drops show at the Orange Peel in Asheville, DONT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN !!!!! The Chocolate Drops were in town as part of a mini-tour they did with the ...
Posted by Don Talley on Thu, 09 Nov 2006 06:55:00 PST

Tea and Chocolate Drops

It's Party Time !!!!!!!!!!!!             ....Mad Tea Party Time that is ............   And nothing goes better with Tea than Chocolate Drops,&nbs...
Posted by Don Talley on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 06:25:00 PST

Etta Baker, Piedmont Blues Musician Passes

It is with sadness that I learned of Etta Baker's passing today.   Etta was not only a wonderful musician, she was a wonderful person.   Living along the border of the Piedmont reg...
Posted by Don Talley on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:24:00 PST

We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason

I generally avoid putting bumper stickers on my truck....but if I had a bumper sticker I think it would say: We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason Edward R. Murrow, a native of North ...
Posted by Don Talley on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:51:00 PST

Carolina Chocolate Drops Attend Tea Party

Friends, I was very excited to learn that one of my favorite bands, The Carolina Chocolate Drops is coming to Asheville on Friday Sept 29th to play at the CD Release Party for my other favorite band, ...
Posted by Don Talley on Fri, 18 Aug 2006 09:22:00 PST

Farewell Celebration for old JukeJoint/Roadhose

Roseland Gardens Farewell Celebration ALL DAY    SATURDAY AUG 26th   Black Mtn NC Built as a dance hall in the 1920's, Roseland Gardens was a vital part of the African-America...
Posted by Don Talley on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:45:00 PST